When Megan Newman takes a job shoeing horses at the Hammer and Nails ranch, she quickly finds herself drawn to Brad Hillman, the gruff cowboy who owns the place. But when Megan comes up with a plan to help rescue a horse from an uncaring owner, will Brad decide to help?
Award-winning and best-selling author Maggie Carpenter has published over 120 romance novels, and is the recipient of a number Spanking Romance Reviews awards spanning a variety of genres. Her readers describe her books as, romantic, funny, suspenseful, beyond a five-star read, exciting romance with a ton of surprises.
Her work includes a best-selling twelve-book contemporary cowboy series, Cowboys After Dark, (http://amzn.to/2ihCNtp), a warrior fantasy trilogy, Warriors After Dark, (http://amzn.to/2iE0cDa) contemporary love stories, and several Victorian romances. His Willful Bride was a #1 best-seller for several weeks and a BookBub Feature Deal. She is best known for her smart, witty, strong-willed women who bring unexpected challenge, mystery and humor into the lives of passionate, dominant men.
Maggie has a history in show-business both in front of and behind the camera, but moved from Los Angeles to live in the Pacific Northwest to pursue her writing. She is an equine enthusiast who rides every day, and writes until the wee hours of the morning when her eyes close only because they must.
The premise of the story was good but it seemed disjointed and stilted. The dialogue between characters was like listening to two people read script who couldn't act. Plus the conversations didn't seem plausible. I can't picture people having the convos these characters were having. I'm not the type to tell someone to not read any particular book, so with that said, read it for yourself. My impression of the book is just that; mine. Happy reading beauties and much respect to the author 😘
An okay read with potential and an interesting storyline but a bit to stiff, rushed and clean. The read felt shallow with a lack of real emotions and dialogues were not very well floating more like a read of skripts. But we got an HEA and some sweet animals.
Megan takes a job shoeing horses at the Hammer and Nails ranch but never expected to be put over her boss’ knee. Brad never really wanted to hire a woman be he does so for a friend. When he meets Megan, he falls for her and know she is the sub for him. Fast-paced read with plenty of drama, intense chemistry and lots of steam. Great characters and an entertaining story. I liked it.
IF YOU LISTEN TO YOUR GUT, THE WEIRDLY WONDERFUL HAPPENS
Once again, Ms. Maggie Carpenter has entertained me with a wonderful story that has a great cast of characters, a touch of suspense, and romance. It is a story of discovery, new beginnings, dominance and submission, and a love for animals—especially horses and a dog named Catch. The story will bring Megan Newman to working at the Hammer and Nails Ranch for Brad Hillman.
Brad has just lost his assistant, Andy Gilbert, who had worked with him for seven years in his farrier business. Needing a new person as a trimmer, he will consult his friend, Doug Haskell, who will highly recommend Megan, but Brad isn’t so sure about hiring any female until he watches her with the horses—even she surprises him, and he hires her instantly.
“I’m not like any man you’ve ever met. I’m givin’ you fair warnin’. Mess with me, don’t do what I say, and I’ll sting that tail of yours real good.”
The physical and sexual chemistry between Brad and Megan is instant and sizzles off the pages, and no matter how gruff he comes across, Megan doesn’t back down. He will allow her to use the loft above the barn, and even he lays out rules that she is not to carry boxes up, leaving it for him to do. When she learns from Teddy Haskell that he has seen Brad at a BDSM club in New York, rather than frighten her, it excites her. Be careful what you wish for.”
“We can’t kid ourselves. We’ve got serious chemistry, Megan. This could turn into something, and if you don’t want that to happen—“
“Devouring, demanding, and decadent—she could only accept his passion. Her life had suddenly swerved down an unfamiliar lane. Brad had exposed a part of herself she didn’t know existed. Brad, is it normal for a person to want—uh—punishment and have her hands tied up? Is there more? Can you give me more? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Stop worryin’. There’s not a thing wrong with you. I used to think that way, but I found out some of us are born with a taste for more than the regular hump dance. That’s who I am, and it looks like you are too, but the opposite side of the coin. You and I are into kink, and there’s plenty to explore on this side of the line. So, yeah, babe, there’s more. A whole lot more, and I can’t wait to show you. We’re in for some interesting times.”
Not only are Brad and Megan in sync sexually—and they steam up the pages, but they work with the horses the same way, in sync. Brad is amazed at how many of his customers already know the reputation of Megan—like a horse whisperer and want her assistance with their trouble horses. Everyone has someone out there, and when Brad and Megan find each other, they have found their soulmate in kink and work.
“Megan, you can’t deny your heart. Nothing yells more loudly or with such clarity.”
“I care about her. I care about her way more than I realized. I care about her a lot. We’re ridin’ the same horse down the same trail!”
The story has a great cast of characters, and I would hope Ms. Carpenter will consider giving several other couples their own stories, like Teddy Haskell and Karen Phillips, a married couple, Tony and Jennifer Roberts, and the returning Andy Gilbert needs someone too. The story has BDSM scenes, discipline, D/s, and DD elements with explicit sex scenes.
Everything felt forced. There was no character development, there was no chemistry between the characters and neither one of them were likeable. The female was too dumb and silly (but not in a good way) and the male was overly alpha there was nothing redeeming about him.
Quite a bit of their internal dialogue was said out loud and it was an awkward and poor choice.
It read like a cheesy play where everyone was over the top and had bad accents.
This was a crazy and sexy romance! It was so relatable, you fall in love with all the characters. I read this in one night because I couldn't wait to see what happens next. This is one book I would recommend!!!
I just reread this book and went from four stars to three. For the first 70% this book did not catch my attention at all because Brad and Megan seemed almost like caricatures. The other characters were far more believable. This book also seems to follow what I call the romance writers template in that one of the main characters seems most often to have green eyes and the modern erotica is far too biological in their descriptions of sex..so huge, split me in two, hot velvet channels , rods of steel etc. Most people have their own ideas of what is arousing and I think they should be left to it. The last two novels that I have read by this author follow the same general theme: strong willed, quick tempered impetuous women, men that rein them in, slow cooker meals, heroines with green eyes, mafia involvement. I preferred the first one. The man seemed more educated and less ill bred than Brad,though I don’t think the author would see it that way. This heroine also mumbled a lot and bleated...ugh, ugh, ugh. However at the 70% mark things improved, there was more going on than just sex/ spanking with a storyline that didn’t seem to progress. Even the main characters became more real. One final note for young readers, withdrawal is not a reliable method of birth control or else there would have been far fewer unexpected pregnancies in the past. Sperm have been found in pre-ejaculation fluid. Now will Amazon let that comment stand?
Megan is something else. She made it a point of her duty to let Brad know she wanted him to be her Dom. Once Teddy told her Brad was into BDSM, she was ready and resting to have a go at him. I loved that Brad knew that Megan was who he wanted to be with after their first night together. I loved their energy.
Megan starts to work for Brad and things heat up fast between them, only there is history between them in this horse county that earns her a spanking. I loved Brad's handling of his ranch and Megan. I enjoyed this storyline and this close knit community. An other worthwhile book of Ms. Carpenter!
I didn’t get very far in the book and I couldn’t finish. Characters are very much on the surface. The girl was just two dimensional and very stereotypical “bubbly girl”. Not my cup of tea.
I have never read a book like this before but, I have to say that this book kept me in thralled in what was happening with the Characters. It will literally have you breathing hard, wanting a very very cold shower, and wanting a very sexy as hell Cowboy. I will be reading this book again.
I really liked this domestic discipline cowboy story.
Brad Hillman is a gruff, rough and tough horse farrier and metal sculptor. He is also a sadist Dom who hides his proclivities from his conservative community. His assistant of 7 years, Andy quits to work for his girlfriend's father and Brad is desperate to find a replacement. Megan Newman is a barefoot trimmer who interviews with him. She is smart, curvy and always late. He hires her as a trimmer and horse trainer. He spanks her for a foolhardy action and she discovers she likes being disciplined. She is thrilled to find a horse she previously worked with at his ranch and is determined to buy her from the owner. They have some ups and downs but eventually get their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Well written novel about a young woman seeking acceptance in a males world. Megan needs the feeling of emotional and physical love to satisfy her most inner lust. Fast read.
This is the first time I have read a story by Ms. Carpenter. The blurb grabbed my attention so I decided to give it a try. Overall it was a good read. Some of the dialogue was "eehh" but not enough to impact the read. Brad was definitely all Alpha. Fortunately, Megan found that she enjoyed his brand of roughness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Megan Newman is a farrier who needs a little discipline and cowboy Brad Hillman is just th man to give it to her. This old fashioned cowboy will discipline her as many time as she needs it and in the process he will win her heart. Definitely a page turner
Rough Cowboy is my first book by Maggie Carpenter. I loved her way of making Megan & Brad "alive" by allowing them not to be perfect. It ticked the boxes for me with lots of hot TLC , drama, great story oh and did I mention HOT TLC. Enjoy
There’s someone for everyone... Brad hired Megan to work with his horses and the two of them quickly hook up. He’s a strong, dominant, disciplinarian and she’s in need of his rough love. I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
The last thing Brad Hillman wanted or needed on his ranch was a female to replace the ranch hand who left to seek what he thought would be a great job elsewhere. However, the young woman came highly recommended by a neighbor Brad held in high esteem and felt he had to at least grant her an interview; which she showed up late to. Not a great start for someone seeking employment. When Megan Newman showed up at his door, the mutual attraction was instantaneous. But it didn’t take long for the beautiful, talented lady to prove herself a valuable asset to Hammer and Nail Ranch. It also didn’t take long for her to find herself across the knees of her sexy cowboy boss getting her bottom warmed. This is a fabulously well written story full of lovable characters and a few not even remotely likable. Romance, mystery, suspense, intrigue and beautiful horses will keep you turning the pages in this awesome book. The surprises are abundant! I LOVED-LOVED-LOVED this hot cowboy adventure, and hope the story continues with some of the other characters. ❤️❤️❤️
This was a good romance with a strict, rough cowboy, and a headstrong young woman who needs his structure. It has romance, spanking, mild bondage, and horses. I enjoyed it!
Brad is a farrier and horse trainer whose barefoot trimmer and assistant of 7 years just left his employ, leaving Brad in a bind. When a good friend recommends a woman, he overrides his first instinct to say no and decides to interview Megan. Brad is very gruff when they first meet, but something tells him to say yes to this beautiful and talented woman. These two attract like two strong magnets that cannot be pulled apart and take the reader on terrific ride thereafter. There are situations to set right, futures to plan and obstacles to overcome. Brad is dominant man who prefers everything a bit rough and hopes Megan will be up for it. Their romance is hot, steamy, and a bit scandalous. Through it all, there is also a great tenderness for both the lovers and the animals they cherish and try to help. I loved this terrific book and highly recommend you give it a read. The author is talented at telling a fast-paced, sexy, and nuanced story and really shines with this book!
I enjoyed reading Rough Cowboy. All about Brad Hillman a Farer, a Cowboy and artist & Megan Newman a Farer, and a horse whisperer. Brad had just lost his assistant after seven years, and was in need of another one quickly. One of his clients recommended a young women with a lot of experience, he was not sure that was going to work, but he had nothing to lose so he granted her an interview! The author wrote a story about a man who is set in his ways, very disciplined & not likely to deter from the line in either direction. Read about Brad & Megan and see if they can work together even if Megan keeps getting a red bottom!! This story is full of passion, discipline & instinctive behavior! I enjoyed it and hopefully you will as well!
This story is about domestic discipline between gruff, rough, and tough, solitary ranch owner and horse farrier, Brad Hillman and his new assistant, Megan Newman, the 'horse whisperer'. There is insta-love, an almost psychic bond with horses, and a Dom looking for his sub. The plot suspense is great, the intimate encounters are hot, spankings numerous, and the ending is nice HEA, but wildly chaotic to the point that I can't see how they're going to pull it off and still have time for each other. But the four stars is because the author used the words, "she bleated" over and over so many times I wanted to scream, SHE'S NOT A SHEEP! A-r-r-r-g-h!